Sasikala admitted to hospital in B’luru with fever, breathlessness

Sasikala admitted to hospital in B’luru with fever, breathlessness

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

21.01.2021

Expelled AIADMK leader V K Sasikala, who is about to complete her four-year jail term in the disproportionate assets case, was shifted to a hospital in Bengaluru after she suffered fever and breathlessness on Wednesday. Parappana Agrahara prison officials shifted Sasikala to Bowring and Lady Curzon Medical College Hospital around 5.30pm.

"Sasikala, 63, with comorbidities of hypertension, diabetes and hypothyroidism has been admitted with cough and fever," Dr Manoj Kumar HV, dean and director, Bowring hospital, said late at night.

Sasikala, who is slated to be released from jail on January 27, was put in an isolation ward after she had fever and breathlessness. A Rapid Antigen Test of her throat swab sample tested negative for Covid-19. However, the results of her RT-PCR tests are awaited. “She’s being treated with high flow nasal oxygen. Necessary investigations are being done and results are awaited,” said hospital medical superintendent Dr Vijayalakshmi GN.

When Sasikala was brought to the hospital, her oxygen saturation level was 80%, as against the normal of 95% and above. “With oxygen support, she is maintaining oxygen saturation level of 97 %,” the superintendent told TOI.

Prison officials have already officially communicated the date of Sasikala’s release to her advocates. However, there is no clarity on when her fellow convicts in the case — sister-in-law J Ilavarasi and nephew V N Sudhakaran — will be released. All three were imposed ₹10 crore each as fine, besides four-year jail term. Failure to pay fine entails another year in the prison.

Sudhakaran’s jail term ended on January 14. “We wonder why he hasn’t paid the fine as he has been fighting a legal battle for early release,” an official said. A special court in Bengaluru had deducted 89 days of imprisonment of Sudhakaran, permitting him to walk out any time after paying ₹10 crore. Ilavarasi, slated to be released in February, too has not paid the fine.

“Sasikala’s release formalities will begin on January 26. An official communication will be made to Sasikala, asking her to get ready to walk out on January 27. That morning, she has to sign a few documents, including the prison register she had signed on February 14, 2017,” prison officials said.

Asked if she had deposited any property or gold, prison officials said, “There was no gold ornament on her when she walked into prison. She didn’t have any cash either.”

While the charges against the prime accused, J Jayalalithaa, lapsed due to her death before the Supreme Court judgment on February 14, 2017, the three other convicts walked into central prison the next day.

Sasikala paid the fine in November 2020 and sought an early release. In her application to the home department, she sought remission, enabling an early release. The papers are with the home department.

HEALTH SCARE: Parappana Agrahara prison officials shift Sasikala to Bowring and Lady Curzon Medical College Hospital in Bengaluru on Wednesday